The colors and varieties of betta fish are diverse, mainly including two major categories: Chinese betta and Thai betta.
Chinese betta, also known as paradise fish, belongs to the genus Betta in the subfamily Macropodusinae of the family Osphronemidae in the order Perciformes. Their body length is generally between 5 and 10 centimeters. Their bodies are grayish-green or brownish. There are 10 equally spaced blue-black transverse bands on the sides of their bodies. There is a dark green spot with a yellow edge on the posterior margin of the operculum. The dorsal fin, anal fin, and caudal fin are all pointed and long. There are dark spots on the dorsal fin and anal fin, and they are outlined with blue. The caudal fin is purplish-red.
Thai betta belongs to the genus Betta splendens in the subfamily Macropodusinae. Their body length is generally between 7 and 8 centimeters. The body color of Thai betta is bright and beautiful. The colors include red, purple, blue, green, white, etc. There is a mixture of red or blue in white. The dorsal fin, anal fin, and caudal fin are particularly wide. When male fish are fully developed, these fins are large and long. When spread out, they are as majestic as a fan.
In addition, the colors and varieties of betta fish also include some other characteristic types. For example, the Vietnamese black paradise fish is mainly distributed in Vietnam and high-altitude areas south of Guangxi in China. Its body color has a strong metallic sense and has relatively high requirements for water temperature. It should not be lower than 15 degrees.
In general, betta fish are loved by ornamental fish enthusiasts because of their unique colors and varieties. Whether it is the grayish-green tone of Chinese betta or the bright colors of Thai betta, they each have their own charm, making betta fish one of the popular ornamental fish species.